President Obama and David Cameron teamed up for a game of table tennisReuters

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President Obama looked the most impressiveRichard Pohle for The Times

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It's high fives on courtRichard Pohle for The Times

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The pair were on a visit to The Globe academy, LondonRichard Pohle for The Times

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They were playing against teenage students of the collegeRichard Pohle for The Times

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Point won by the President and his teammate, perhaps?Richard Pohle for The Times

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The President and his wife are greeted by David Cameron outside Downing StreetGetty

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The President will address both houses of parliament at Westminster HallGetty

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Emerging from 10 Downing StreetGetty Images

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Samantha Cameron gets chatting to MichelleGetty Images

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Michelle Obama talks to the Duchess of CambridgeReuters

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Mr Obama lays a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown WarriorPeter Nicholls for The Times

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The Obamas signed Westminster's visitor's bookGetty Images

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Barack and Michelle Obama meet the Duke and Duchess of CambridgeAP

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The Obamas were not invited to the royal weddingReuters

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The Queen and President Obama after the ceremonial welcomeGetty

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The party watch a guard of honour at Buckingham PalaceLeon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

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The Obamas and their hosts stand for the national anthemsToby Melville/Getty Images

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The Obamas greet The Queen at Buckingham PalaceAFP

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This is the first full state visit by a US president since 2003AFP

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The Obamas arrive at the State Entrance of Buckingham PalaceKevin Lamarque/Reuters

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Barack Obama speaks to the Prince of WalesPA

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Michelle Obama with the Duchess of CornwallPA

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The US President met Prince Charles at the residence of the US AmbassadorPA

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President Obama walks out to make statement about the US tornadoAP

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President Obama this morningAP

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The President and First Lady landed in Air Force One just after 10.15pmPA

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Barack Obama was forced to start his visit to Britain a day early by the ash cloudAP

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He spent the night at the US Ambassador's residence in Regents ParkAFP

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Plans for the rest of the visit to Britain remain unchangedPA

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They were greeted by a hastily arranged official welcomeAFP/Getty

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Mr Obama and his wife are driven from the airportPA

AnalysisGiles Whittell

Published at 12:01AM, May 25 2011

At Downing Street today, David Cameron and Barack Obama will aim to do for
geopolitics what they did yesterday for ping-pong. They want to show a unity
of purpose more convincing than any of their forebears has managed since
Ronald Reagan called Margaret Thatcher “the best man in England”.

The “special” relationship is so over. Nowadays it has to be “essential”,
“fundamental” or at the very least “unique”. In this newspaper and in public
statements in the past two days, Messrs Obama and Cameron have outdone each
other in mutual admiration. It’s not just that we speak the same language